16-ethers of 16, 17-dihydroxy steroids of the pregnane series



Patented July 10, 1962 This invention relates to, and has for its object the provision of, a method of preparing physiologically active steroids, and to the physiologically active steroids produced thereby.

The steroids of this invention include the ether derivatives of l6u,l7a-dihydroxy steroids of the pregnane series, and more particularly steroids of the general formula wherein the 1,2-position is saturated or double-bonded; R is hydrogen, R is B-hydroxy or together R and R is keto; X and X are hydrogen, halogen (i.e. fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine), hydroxy, or lower alkoxy; at least one X beinghydrogen; Y is hydrogen or methyl; Y is hydrogen, fiuoro or methyl; Z is hydrogen, halogen,

I hydroxy, or acyloxy; and Q is alkyl or aralkyl.

The compoundsof this invention are prepared by interacting a steroid of the general formula wherein the 1,2-position is saturated or double-bonded, and R, R, X, X, Y, Y and Z are as hereinbefore defined, with a diazo compound of the formula, QN wherein 'Q is alkylidene or aralkylidene, preferably of less than ten carbon atoms as exemplified by the lower alkylidenes (e.g. diazomethane and diazoethane) and the monocyclic ar(lwer alkylidenes) (e.g. phenyldiazomethane). The reaction is conducted in the presence of water or an alcohol, such as a lower alkanOl at any normal temperature, such as ambient temperature.

Suitable starting materials for the process of this invention are described in US. Patent No. 2,831,003, granted April 15, 1958, and include the cycloborate esters of 16a-hydroxyhydrocortisone,

16ot-hydroxycortisone, 16t-hydroxyprednisolone, l6a-hydroxyprednisone, 9oc-l1fil0-IGLx-hYClIOXYhYdIOCOItlSOHe (e.g. 9oc-fiUOIO-l6ahydroxyhydrocortis one 9ot-halo-l6a-hydroxycortisone, 9oc-l121lO-l6tx-l1YdI'OXYPI6dI1lSO1OI16 (e.g. 9a-fluoro-l6a-hydroxyprednisolone) 9a-halo-16u-hydroxyprednisone, lZa-halo-16m-hydroxyhydrocortisone (e.g. l2u-fluoro-l6ot- 'hydroxyhydrocortisone) 12a-halo-16a-hydroxycortisone (e.g. 12ot-chloro-16a-hydroxycortisone) 12a-halo-l6a-hydroxyprednisolone, 12a-halol 6a-hydroxyprednisone, 6a-methyl- 1 6zx-l'lYdIOXYhYdIOCO1tlSOH6, 6a-methyl-16a-hydroxycortisone, 6oc-methyl-16a-hydroxyprednisolone, 6a-methyll 6u-hydroxypre dnisone, Zea-methyl-16a-hydroxyhydrocortisone, Za-methyl-I 6d-hydroxycortisone, 9a-halo-6tx-methyl-l6a-hydroxyhydrocortisone (e.g. c-

fluoro-6a-methy1-16a-hydroxyhydrocortisone), 9m-halo-6u-methyl-l6a-hydroxyprednisolone (e.g.

fluoro-6u-methyl-l 6 a-hydroxyprednisolone) 1 1B,16a,l7a-trihydroxyprogesterone,

l l-keto-l 6a, 1 7a-dihydroxyprogesteroue,

11 6,1604, l7tz-trihydroXy-1-dehydroprogesterone,

l l-keto- 1 6a, 1 7a-dihydroxy-l-dehydroprogesterone,

9m-halo-1 1/8,16a,l7a-trihydroxyprogesterone (e.g.

fluoro-l1,8,161x,17a-tiihydroxyprogesterone),

90c halo l1/3,16a,17a-trihydroxy-l-dehydroprogesterone (e. g. 90; fluoro-l 1 8,16a,17a-trihydroxy-l-dehydroprogesterone) 12oz halo-l 1,8, 1 6 a, 17 u-trihydroxy- 1 -dehydroprogesterone e. g. IZa-flllOl'O-l 1,8,16a,17m-trihydroxy-l-dehydroprogesterone) 21-halo-1 1,8,1 6 a, l7a-trihydroxyprogesterone fluoro-l 1B, 16a,17a-t1ihydroxyprogester0ne) 2l-halo-1 1p, 16a,17m-trihydroxy-l-dehydroprogesterone,

as well as 2l-esters of those steroids which contain a 21-l1ydroXy group; the preferred esters being those with hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than ten carbon atoms as exemplified by the lower alkanoic acids (e.g. acetic, propionic and hexanoic acid), the monocyclic aromatic canboxylic acids (e.g., benzoic acid), the monocyclic aralkanoic acids (e.g., phenacetic and El-phenylpropionic acid) the lower alkenoic acids, the lower cycloalkane carboxylic acids. In addition the cycloborate esters of 6m-fluoro-l6a-hydroxyhydrocortisone, 6a-fluoro- 16a hydroxycortisone, fia-fluoro-l6a-hydroxyprednisolone, 6oz-fill01'0-16a-hYCl1OXYPICdI1iSOH6, 6a-fiuoro-9u-halol6a-hydroxyhydrocortisone (e.g. 60,9a-(liflIlOIO-l6ot-11Y- droxyhydrocortisone) 6a-fluoro-9a-halo-l6euhydroxycortisone, 6a-fiuoro-9u-halo-l6a-hydroxyprednisolone (e.g. 6u,9tx-difluoro-16a-hydroxyprednisolone) and 6a-iluoro- 9a-halo-16a-hydroxyprednisone, as well as the 21-esters amass thereof, may be employed as starting materials. These steroids can be prepared by the method described in said Patent No. 2,831,003 and Example 3 hereinafter. Particularly preferred steroid reactants are those wherein the 1,2-position is either saturated or double-bonded, R is hydrogen, R is ,B-hydroxy or together R and R is keto; X and X are hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine, at least one X being hydrogen; Y is hydrogen; Y is hydrogen or fluoro; Z is hydrogen, hydroxy, or lower alkancyloxy; and Q is lower alkyl or benzyl.

If a 21-hydroxy steroid is employed as a reactant and a 2l-ester derivative is the desired product, the corresponding 21-hydroxy steroid can be acylated in the usual manner. Thus, to prepare the preferred 21-acyloxy derivatives wherein the acyl radical corresponds to the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than ten carbon atoms, either the acyl halide or acid anhydride of a lower alkanoic acid (e.g. acetic, propionic and tertbutyric acid), a monocyclic aryl carboxylic acid (e.g. benzoic and toluie acid), a monocyclic aryl lower alkanoic acid (e.g. phenacetic and ,B-phenylpropionic acid), a lower alkenoic acid, a cycloalkanecarboxylic acid, or a cycloalkenecarboxylic acid is employed as a reactant.

All of the compounds of this invention are physiologically-active substances which possess glucocorticoid and anti-inflammatory activity and hence can be used in lieu of known glucocorticoids such as hydrocortisone and cortisone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. For this purpose, they can be administered in the same manner as hydrocortisone, for example, the dosage being adjusted for the relative potency of the particular steroid.

The following examples are illustrative of the invention (all temperatures being in centigrade):

EXAMPLE 1 9a-Flu0r0-16a-Meth0xy-A -Pregnene-1 1,8,1 7a,21-Tri0l- 3,20-Dine To a solution of 490 mg. of 9a-fluoro-A -pregnene-.11B,- 1 6a,170t,2l-t6llIOl-3,ZO-dlOnfi-160t,170t-CYClObOIttB in ml. of methanol is added sufficient ethereal diazomethane to give a permanent yellow coloration. The excess diazomethane is then decomposed by the addition of a few drops of 10% aqueous acetic acid. Chloroform (200 ml.) is added and the mixture is washed successively with water, sodium bicarbonate solution and again with Water. Evaporation of the solvent in vacuo followed by crystallization of the residue from methanol gives about 170 mg. of 9a-fluoro-16a-methoxy-A*-pregnene-l1B,17a,21- triol-3,20-dione possessing the following properties: M.P. about 248-252"; [a] +l02 (C., 0.50 in chlf.);

23;? 2.94, 5.88, 6.00, 6.16 317;, 238 my (e=18,500)

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O F (410.36): C, 64.36; H, 7.61; F, 4.63; OMe, 7.56. Found: C, 64.41; H, 7.53; F, 4.73; OMe, 7.8 8.

The above reaction can also be carried out with ethanol, tertiary butanol or wet dioxane as the solvent.

EXAMlPLE 2 Substituting an equivalent amount of diazoethane for the diazomethane in Example 1, there is obtained 9&- fluoro lGOL-EthOXY M-pregnene 1t1/5,17a,21-triol 3,20- dione.

Similarly, by substituting diazophenylmethane for the diazomethane in Example 1, there is obtained 9oc-fill01'0- 1'6a-benzyloxy-M-pregnene-11fi,17a,21-triol-3 ,ZO-dione.

EXAMPLE 3 6a,9a-Difluor0-16a-Meth0xy-A -Pregnene-11B,] 701,21-

Trial-3,20-Dione (a) Preparation of 6a,9a difluoro-M-pregnene 11 [3,- 160a,] 7oz,21-tetr0l-3,20-di0ne 16st,] 7a-cycl0b0rate.-A so- EXAMPLE 4 Following the procedure of Example 3, but substituting 200 mg. of 6a,9a-difluoro-A pregnadiene-11,8,l6a,17u, 21-tetrol-3,20-dione for the steroid reactant in step (a), there is obtained 6a,9a-difiuoro-16a-methoxy-A -pregnadiene-l 1B,l7a,2l1-triol-3,20-dione.

Similarly, 6a-fluoro-16ot-hydroxyhydrocortisone, 6afiuoro-l6a-hydroxyprednisolone, and 6a,9oc,(llflUOrO-16ahydroxyprednisone yield 6ot-fluoro-16u-methoxyhydrocortisone, 6a-fluoro-16wmethoxyprednisolone and 60,9a-difluoro-16a-methoxyprednisone, respectively.

EXAMPLE 5 A solution of mg. 9a-fiuoro-16amethoxyA -pregnene-l1 8,17a,21-triol-3,2O-dione in 7 ml. of pyridine and 2.1 ml. of acetic anhydride is allowed to stand at room temperature for 40 hours. The mixture is diluted with water, extracted with chlorofrom and the chloroform extract washed with water. After drying over sodium sulfate the chloroform is removed in vacuo and the residue crystallized from acetone-hexane. The pure acetate has the following properties: M.P. about 217-218.5; [a] +l0O (C., 1.04 in chlf.);

733', 2.38 mg (e=17,900)

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O- F (452-40): C, 63.70; H, 7.35; F, 4.20. Found: C, 64.24; H. 7.34; F. 4.16.

Nuiol 'Ymax.

EXAMPLE 6 9a-Flu0r0-16a-Meth0xy-A -Pregnadiene-11,8,1 7u,21-

Trial-3,20-Di0ne Substituting 500 mg. of 9ot-fluoro-A -pregnadiene1113, l7a,21-triol-3,20-dione 16,17-cycloborate for 9a-fiuoro- M-pregnene-11,6,170,21-triol-3,20-dione41'6,l7cycloborate in the procedure of Example 1, there is obtained 9tx-fluoro- 16a-methoxy-A -pregnadiene-l 1B,17a,21-triol-3 ,20-dione which after crystallization from methanol has the following properties: M.P. about 25826l; [a] |-62 (C., 0.47 in chlf.);

51,1}, 239 m;i(e=15,100); i? 2.95, 5.88, 6.01, 6.14, 6.23;

Analysis.--Calcd. for C H O F (408.34): C. 64.69; H, 7.16; F, 4.65. Found: C, 64.58; H, 7.14; F, 4.75.

Similarly, by substituting any other cycloborate ester of a :,170c-ClihYdl0XY steroid of the pregnane series for the steroid reactants in the foregoing examples, the corresponding 1611-66161 derivative is formed.

The invention may be variously otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

steroids of the general formulae CH Z wherein R is hydrogen, R is fl-hydroxy and together R and R' is keto; each X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy and lower alkoxy; at least one X being hydrogen; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, and methyl; Z

is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo-. gen, hydroxy, and acyloxy; and Q is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aralkyl.

2. 9a-halo 16a (lower alkoxy) A pregnene-llp; 17a,2l-triol-3,20-dione.

3. 9afiuoro-l6u-methoxy A -pregnene 11B,17u,21- triol-3,20-dione.

4. 9u-flu0ro-16a-ethoxy-A -pregnene 11p,17a,2l-triol- 3,20-dione.

5. The 21-ester of 9a-halo-l6u-(lower alkoxy)-A -pregnone-11B,17a,21-tri01-3,20-di011e with a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than carbon atoms.

6. Qa-fluoro 160a methoxy-M-pregnene 11,8,17m,21-

tn'ol-3,20-dione 21-acetate.

comprises interacting the corresponding steroidal compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formulae wherein R is hydrogen, R is fl-hydroxy and together R and R is keto; each X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy and lower alkoxy; at least one X being hydrogen; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fiuoro, and methyl; and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy and acyloxy; with a compound selected from the group consisting of diazoalkane and diazoaralkane in the presence of a compound selected from the group consisting of water and alcohol, and recovering the 16mether formed.

12. A compound of the formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STEROIDS OF THE GENERAL FORMULAE 